How did you find out about Sophia Grace Couture?

I noticed that a lot of people I know had bought their wedding dress at Sophia Grace through their social media accounts. After getting engaged, I looked at the shop’s website and saw all the amazing reviews it got so I booked an appointment.

How would you describe your experience at Sophia Grace Couture?

As soon as I walked in I was struck by how large and elegant the boutique itself was and how stylish and ‘on trend’ the wedding dresses they stocked were (I found it hard to narrow down the ones I wanted to try on). The customer service was also second to none as Naydene listened to what I wanted but was also able to make suggestions based on what she thought would suit me (and her suggestions were spot on).

Tell us about your dress and why you choose your particular gown

I knew that I wanted a fit and flare style gown with a statement train. I wanted it to be classy and graceful yet fashionable at the same time. I also knew I wanted a sweetheart neckline but I was certain I didn’t want a strapless dress. The Stella York gown that I picked was one of the last that I tried on (because it was strapless) but when I saw it on, I knew straight away that it was the dress for me. I loved the moscato coloured underlay and all the detail on the back. I also loved the train on this dress- it is incredible. I didn’t want to take it off!

How did you meet? Are you happy to tell us about the proposal?

We met in the pub and hit it off straight away. We went on many more dates after that and very quickly decided that we really liked each other and wanted to be in a relationship.

Marc proposed when we were in London sitting on the grass in front of London Bridge. We had been at the pub all day and I thought he was joking when he first asked me. We went to the Lion King musical later that night. I was so happy!

What was your inspiration for your wedding? Did you follow a specific theme or colour palette?

I knew I didn’t want white flowers as you see so many of them at weddings. I also didn’t want my flowers to look too ‘perfect’ and wanted a more textured and wild feel with thistles and seasonal flowers throughout the bouquets. I like pinks and purples but my bridesmaids are both quite fair so I knew lilacs and pale pinks wouldn’t suit them in terms of dresses, so we went for a port colour instead. We added lilacs and mauves throughout their flowers to soften the dark colours and give a more summery feel.

What made you decide upon your chosen venue?

I didn’t know what to get my mum for mother’s day a few years back so I looked up places to go for afternoon tea in Edinburgh and discovered the Signet Library.

I love everything about the venue- the high ceilings, the colonnades, the way the light shines through the windows and, most importantly, how steeped in history it is. I love living in such a beautiful city and I have always been interested in its history so being able to get married in a historic building really appealed to me.

After Marc proposed we went to a wedding open evening at the Signet Library to find out more and we were absolutely blown away by it. We viewed a couple of other venues but nothing else compared.

Tell us about your wedding

It was a beautiful sunny day in July. I was staying in a hotel on the royal mile which meant I just had to walk across the road to get to the venue (although doing this whilst wearing a wedding dress in peak tourist season was slightly nerve wracking). We had a humanist celebrant perform our ceremony and then we had drinks and canapés for our guests afterwards. All our friends and family were there and everybody was in good spirits. It was the best day of our lives!

Do you have any advice for future brides visiting Sophia Grace Couture?

Tell the team what you want but also listen to their advice as they really have a good sense of style and lots of experience in helping brides find what works for them. For example, I wanted a short veil for my wedding but whenever I tried them on I wasn’t keen. By the time I went to Sophia Grace I was thinking I would just go without a veil, however, Naydene suggested a long, flowing veil to compliment the dress and, my goodness, I’m glad she did.